the failure to raise the debt ceiling would send shock waves throughtheeconomybothnational and global. that being said, president obama only fanned the flames today painting a picture of government catastrophe based on the facts seems a bit trumped up. >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states. >> reporter: in the first press conference of his second term, president obama wasted little time scaring the day lights out of millions of americans who rely on government paychecks for one service or another, of the consequences of a u.s. default. >> may not be able to pay our troops or honor our contracts with small business owners. food inspectors, air traffic controllers, specialists who track down nuclear materials wouldn't get their paychecks. >> reporter: the president's statement is speculative and not true because, frankly, no one knows what programs will be short changed if the u.s. can't meet its payment obligations. it's never happened before. but here is what we do know courtesy of the bipartisan policy center. if congress fails to raise the debt ceiling the gove